These poems have captured the core of Spain and the Flamenco spirit. They encompass the pain, the joy and the depth of the rich and ancient Spanish culture. I find them to be very deep and very moving. Please keep them coming Mr. Chandler.

I listened to "The Lure" several times and found it to be both dark and exciting at the same time. Dark because all evidence of the bird walking on the sand is washed away, kind of like life can become eventually. Exciting because the bird flies off into the darkness and the unknown, which none of us can see but we still go there anyway.

Fred Chandler's poem, "Wind in her Hair" served as inspiration for a song by Robert Lee Roth, a singer from Norway who sang with the band Max Uflax. Roth is a fan of Fred’s poetry, which he says is brilliant, a cross between Jim Morrison and Arthur Rimbaud. Roth has since launched a solo career, where he endeavors in writing, singing, and poetry projects.
A poster for "Wind in her Hair" can be purchased in the shop on this website. Academy Award winner Catherine Martin employed her creative team to design the poster. The limited edition print comes signed by both Fred Chandler and Bruce Botnick, who was an engineer for The Doors.
"I'm always touched when other artists read my work and use it in their medium. This is the second time a musician has created a song from a poem I've written. The musicians' work never disappoints, only surprises. I hope you agree. Just listen..." - Fred Chandler
To hear Roth's song inspired by Fred's poem "Wind in her Hair," click on the audio link below the poem.

Encore (Sculpture in wood, 1976 – 50 x 50 x 30 cm) From one angle, the sculpture depicts a pianist. But if you turn it by 90 degrees you will see a violinist. The third photo shows an intermediate point of view, where you can see how the pianist transforms into the violinist. This wooden sculpture consists of two silhouettes (the pianist and the violinist) at 90° angles to each other. In fact, you can create an endless variety of these silhouette sculptures simply by carefully cutting a block from two different silhouettes at 90° angles to each other. Fukuda has made a large number of sculptures utilizing this technique, and his discovery of this principle led to the first utilization of his work in three-dimensional forms. “Encore” is part of a series of metamorphosing musicians captured at different stages of a concert.

I loved "The Hypocrite." I'm not a religious person, but I understand and appreciate the need for redemption, even though I'm still not convinced some of my past behavior is all that terrible. I found it interesting how despite asking for a priest, and asking for absolution, The Hypocrite still finds it appropriate to blame others for his actions. It really speaks to the less pleasant aspects of human nature.

When I listened to "Prodigy" it just reminded me of how inspiration can come from such a simple place. I like the way Mr.Candler has weaved the sound of a single note from a reed flute into a gushing fountain of hope and joy.

Mark, I will be reading 3 poems this Sunday at Beyond Baroque. Those poems will be recorded and put up on my website to hear. We'll place the poems on Pick Of Week in about two weeks. Thank you for your cogent comment.

how can we understand death if we don't live to the fullest,
Only after we invade our inner soul with the pleasures and emotions of life
can fear find us..... and ultimately fear death.
i am also the captain on my deck and to many in my circles, the X factor.
Enjoyed your poems......
it's fun to write as sometimes that is the only way to find ourselves.....
Life moves quickly so death is always close.....but yet so unreal to most!
Leon Cohen

I can read these poems over and over again -- they are like visiting the Redwoods or wandering through a desolate valley. One can wonder and contemplate their existence and, when least expected, encounter a great truth. They remind us the secrets of the universe are told every day in the sights and sounds we so often ignore.

I've never been very good at understanding the metaphors and meanings of poetry in general, but somehow listening to you (or someone else) read them make them so much more accessible.
I love this poem. It makes me think about my dad who passed away 18 years ago. The place you describe seems so lovely, I'd like to think that's where he is.
Thank you, they're like words of comfort.

I thought "Tender to the Touch" was a very romantic and touching poem. I married my high school sweetheart and the poem made me think of the long journey of our relationship. As a child my parents didn't help me to understand the sometimes challenging reality of marriage. I soon discovered that as "dreaming fades to waking" it takes real hard work and patience to keep a marriage successful. Now I understand that though physical passions overtime may diminish, with a strong healthy love you will feel that "ending was never enough."

Patrick Gregston, I am now offering my 3 books of poetry as eBooks which will include many of my audio readings. So now you can use your cell phone, eReader or iPad to hear my readings and read my poems!

Travis, a very interesting choice. You picked one of my poems Kerplunk, which is a favorite of Alex Garland. I know and worked with Alex on Danny Boyle’s movies 28 Days Later and Sunshine. Alex also wrote the best selling novel The Beach.

Too haggard, impatient and stupid to cope with another reading where it’s more about performance than what’s performed, Fred’s work and delivery is a relief…a uniform tonic to rapid-fire, too hot/cold, hyper-political, IMPORTANTLY forgettable snippets one can’t help but drown in.
I always have to feel/find some pattern: the loaded moment in “Twisted,” the inherited sin of “Crab Apple,” the life-cycle commodity of “The Disclaimer” – they rapidly rack focus between the contents of within to the context we’re haplessly tossed into.
I concede I’m biased, but not apolitical, and the relief I find in Fred’s work is its lack of an agenda: I’m allowed for a few fleeting moments to reflect on the reflection, not burn a flag or march or be angry. I’m a fragment, spatter or flicker of something much greater, and that’s okay…and that’s a relief.

As Debussy once wrote, music is the space between the notes. This simple poem reminds me of the almost impressionistic nature of trying to capture a moment in time, a piece of music. The compelling contradictions of imagery almost act as a quick dadaist sketch, almost a musique concrete gesture. It really approaches simplicity, the most difficult of goals. Nice work!

Freddy C,
I'm so happy to see that your poetry has evolved so much. This poem is beautiful, it really evokes the playful passions of first touches. I'm so proud of you. And this web site is fantastic. ~ aimee

The Sacred Refuge is another FC poem that takes you deep. After listening a
few times, I found it to be elusive like a dream but as vivid as the fully
awake consciousness. Maybe somewhere in between. It's in the mind and yet
outside of the mind . . . and it's both. It's deep inside a dream and from
that perspective, it's the only reality. This is what it does to me.
I love it.
D.

Hello, Everyone, I just added a poem Casting Call to my site. It was recorded by Bruce Botnick. He then went and did some creative mixing work on a sound stage. I think it plays quite cool. Tell me what you think?

Hello and Happy New Year, ZDB. Thank you for your compliment about my site. Tell me what poem, or poems you liked? Very soon, two of my spoken poems will be going up on the site. Sacred Refuge and Scream The Hymn. Very different poems in contrast. I travel a lot. Last November I was in New York City for the month. During a friend's Thanksgiving dinner I met poet Ray Dipalma. He gave me a signed copy of his new book, The Ancient Use Of Stone. I read it and just loved it. I recommend others to read it too. I think you'll enjoy it and find his view of the world, and his use of words fascinating.
Fred

Mr. Renton,
You're right about truth and pain = comedy. I just wonder sometimes why that is? It's universal, so all of us humans must have at least a bit of a sadistic nature, otherwise, it wouldn't be funny.

Mr. Brent Mosley I do agree with the your thoughts on how "Basis of a Paradox" is a good laugh. Because when truth combines with pain you get comedy. Or so the saying goes. I think the correct statement is "Comedy is truth and pain." It's in a book I have.

I read this poem and laughed because it's so true. After a while though, I got thinking about it and wondered, "why am I laughing, this stuff is pretty dark, especially the last two lines?" Made me think about where I'm coming from, what's making me tick and what I'm all about.
Just wondering if anyone out there had a similar reaction or if not, how DID it make you feel?

At this time of year I always find poetry to be a source of comfort and inspiration. Being an avid poetry reader, I'm always looking for new material to read and absorb and it's always a great pleasure to find something new, at least to me, and good.
While surfing the net looking for something new, I just happened to find this site and I must admit, I'm blown away by what I've seen and read.
I find Mr. Chandler's poetry to be deep, insiteful and very touching. The poetry and the artwork/photography together make a beautiful combination, showing and reveling the very soul of the author and at the same time it leaves plenty of room for the reader to find their own meaning and reach deep into their own souls.
I hope alot of people will find this site and enjoy the beautiful poetry and images. I certainaly have!!!

Catherine Martin (Academy Award winner for Art Direction of Moulin Rouge and Art Director for Baz Luhrmann's recent movie Australia), had her creative team do a unique graphic, true-to-form of William Blake as in his The Sick Rose. Add an incredible print job, and this beautiful poster was the end result!